Comment on About last night … (2015-02-27 15:20:18)Eller shouldn’t be traded for anything right now unless it is Ryan Johansen. He is a core player who has the talent to score based on his past, which is why MT has him on the 2nd line with Pleks. When you are #2 in the league in points, you don’t want to change too much. Why is Eller what he is and not more? Most of it is mental. #1. He still may be unsure of himself and needs reflexive conditioning after his severe concussion from the Gryba hit. #2. He fights the puck too much and loses body control. #3. He plays like a 4th liner in style when he has the talent of a top-6 forward. #4. He gets too preoccupied in traffic with the physical play and can’t adjust from his hard skills (bumping, checking) to his soft skills (quick move, instinctive pass) unless he has time. And he has always held on to the puck too long, like many Europeans, and seems to lack top peripheral vision. Still he had nearly 40 assists in the AHL one year. The bottom line is that since coming to the Habs he has changed his style from the MaxPac-style to the scrappy-style in order to please the coaches. Even Mats Sundin changed his style and became more physical after he was traded to the Leafs and was coached by blue-collar Burns. Obviously, playing with lesser talents doesn’t help anyone produce points in today’s NHL, right? What does he need to be better? He needs a coach to teach him the offensive game and better linemates. And the head coach has to be patient while the player is developing his offensive game, as the Habs have been with MaxPac who has developed into an elite scorer in the NHL. Once Andrighetto or Hudon or Scherbak is ready, I would put Eller with them and DSP so that Eller can produce offence as he did when he had Galch and Gallagher.

Comment on Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets preview: Smith-Pelly to make Habs debut; Thomas a healthy scratch (2015-02-26 18:06:17)Eller shouldn't be traded for anything right now unless it is Ryan Johansen. He is a core player who has the talent to score based on his past, which is why MT has him on the 2nd line with Pleks. When you are #2 in the league in points, you don't want to change too much. Why is Eller what he is and not more? Most of it is mental. #1. He still may be unsure of himself and needs reflexive conditioning after his severe concussion from the Gryba hit. #2. He fights the puck too much and loses body control. #3. He plays like a 4th liner in style when he has the talent of a top-6 forward. #4. He gets too preoccupied in traffic with the physical play and can't adjust from his hard skills (bumping, checking) to his soft skills (quick move, instinctive pass) unless he has time. And he has always held on to the puck too long, like many Europeans, and lacked top peripheral vision. Still he had nearly 40 assists in the AHL one year. The bottom line is that since coming to the Habs he has changed his style from the MaxPac-style to the scrappy-style. Even Mats Sundin changed his style and became more physical after he was traded to the Leafs and was coached by blue-collar Burns. Obviously, playing with lesser talents doesn't help anyone produce points in today's NHL, right? What does he need to be better? He needs a coach to teach him the offensive game and be given better linemates. And the head coach has to be patient while the player is developing his offensive game, as the Habs have been with MaxPac who has developed into an elite scorer in the NHL.

Comment on Pat Hickey: Habs don’t need Evander Kane (2015-02-06 16:59:54)Which HOF-talent Fat Phil are you talking about? HOF'r Phil Esposito who is 5th all-time in goals? The same Phil who was a malcontent in Chicago before he was traded to Boston in the most lopsided trade in history? If so, you're right. He was run out of town, too, but not before he led his team to 2 Cup victories.

Comment on Capitals vs. Canadiens preview (2015-01-30 17:11:56)Pleks doesn't get hurt because he shys away from physical contact too often. He rarely gets hit, rarely falls down, rarely goes to the middle, rarely sustains hits in the corners to make a play, so how's a guy going to get hurt? You can't be relied on for top-6 duty if you're always on the perimeter. Yes, he's good but not for the 1st or 2nd line because he doesn't sacrifice enough to score. Look at Zetterburg and Datsuyk and how often they get hurt. They go to the tough areas and don't play afraid. That carries a team far as long as you have a good supporting cast around you.

Comment on Capitals vs. Canadiens preview (2015-01-30 16:44:47)That was just "TV talk" from Kyp. He had to promote the Habs because that was the game he was covering. This team is better than last year and could go another round, but not four, because it doesn't have the impact players at the forward positions. It would be in better shape if Bergevin had signed Stastny last summer to team up with MaxPac. Pleks can't handle the rough going in the playoffs and Sekac still needs to learn to shoot and stop dancing on the perimeter. Eller is a proven playoff guy and Galchenyuk will become one. The other guys have limitations of size and speed. Add McCarron, Scherbak, Andrighetto, Hudon to the core and watch out because these guys can carry it, shoot, and draw multiple defenders.